This fantastic contemporary museum opened in 2005 and is dedicated to all things relating to the sea. It shows the enormous impact the ocean has had on Cypriot life and culture.
The museum covers over 700 years of sea-life history and also houses an exact replica of an ancient vessel that was shipwrecked off the coast of Kyrenia in the 3rd century BC. Dubbed Kyrenia II, it was reconstructed by scientists using traditional methods and materials.
On the upper floor, exhibits include fossilised fish, corals, shells and all manner of sea urchins and sea plants, but the star attraction is the complete skeleton of the pygmy hippopotamus (estimated to be more than 75,000 years old).
Most of the ground floor is taken up by the Kyrenia II replica but there are also exhibits of archaeological artefacts that take you step-by-step through Cyprus’ vast history.
The basement is home to the Tornaritis-Pierides Marine Life Musuem with displays of shells, sponges and preserved and stuffed Mediterranean fish, sharks, turtles and sea birds.
